National Gallery to Be Completed in Early 2019 with SNF Grant

The expansion and modernization project of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum (EPMAS) in Athens is expected to be completed in early 2019, with a grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), totaling 13 million euros.

National Gallery Director Marina Lambraki Plaka; Culture and Sports Minister Lydia Koniordou; SNF co-president Andreas Dracopoulos. Photo@ Marilena Katsini

The new grant will lead to the completion of the gallery’s building B, which will be named “Stavros Niarchos Foundation Wing of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum” and will host permanent painting collections.

“The new National Gallery will become a modern, functional and attractive museum, which will be able to preserve, present and showcase the invaluable treasures of Greek contemporary art available in its vaults, responding more effectively to its social and educational role,” Minister of Culture and Sports, Lydia Koniordou said during a press conference.

The SNF grant will cover , among other works, the completion of all floors and lifts of Building B – including the addition of a third floor – the construction of a glass facade, as well as of a spiral glass facade in building C.

The building B will also house the administrative services, the maintenance workshops, the EPMAS Library and a restaurant on the 3rd floor with panoramic views.

“We are happy to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, EPMAS and the Region of Attica to complete the expansion of the National Gallery, a project which is expected to place it on a prominent position, on the map of international cultural organizations,” said the co-president of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Andreas Dracopoulos.

EPMAS’ new premises will house more than 1,000 exhibits (instead of 400 previously exhibited in the old facilities) in a total area of 20,760 m2.